A Longitudinal Study of Relations between Attitudes and Delinquent Behavior in Adolescents

This study investigated the relations between adolescents’attitudes toward delinquent behavior and actual delinquent behavior. In a study among 550 adolescents, interviewed 3 times during a period of 6 years, results indicated that for those who are just starting delinquent behavior, it is mainly attitudes that influence behavior. Yet for those who have experienced delinquent behavior, it is behavior that influences attitudes. These findings showed that relationships between attitudes and delinquent behaviors should be examined with longitudinal data to establish insight into directionality and causality